Apparatus for treating fibrous material



April 1937- J. N. SELVIG 2,078,419

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1955 6Sheets-Sheet 1 April 27, 1937. J. N. SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATINGFIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 27, 1937..1. N. SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29,1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1. fikw April 27, 1937. J. N. SELVIG APPARATUS FORTREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 29, 1935' April27, 1937. J. N.-SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL FiledApril 29. 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Ira/en or m April 27, 1937. J. N.SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1935' 6Sheets-Sheet 6 r a I I I wkm cdf

I Patented Apr. 27, 1937 APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBBOUS MATERIAL John N.Selvig, Westfleld, N. I.

Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,761

20 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for treating fibrous material andparticularly to apparatus for liberating the fibers from fibrousmaterial such as flax, hemp, jute and the like. It is the object of myinvention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts bywhich the control of the stalks and the fiber as they move through themachine is improved and whereby the action of the breaking and scutchingelements is improved.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved form ofgripping and forwarding chain and cooperating parts by which the stalksare carried forward for action thereon by the beater devices, withreference particularly to holding the stalks firmly in position so as tobe presented with the desired precision of position to the beaterdevices while at the same time avoiding such tight gripping as wouldhave a tendency to break the fibers. It is another object of myinvention to provide an improved form of gripping and forwarding chainand cooperating parts for holding the fibrous material in position byengagement with the fibers after the stalks have progressed part waythrough the machine and the fibers throughout a portion of the length ofthe stalks have been separated from the woody portions, such holdingmeans being arranged for moving the partially cleaned stalks forward forthe completion of the breaking and scutching action.

It has been one of the objects of my invention to provide an improvedform of gripping and forwarding means for the stalks and fibers of suchconstruction as to make the parts eifective for gripping by reason oftheir weight whereby a heavy pressure can be applied for easing thefibers into crimped relation without positive action thereon such aswould be likely to cause.

4 breakage. It is another object to provide that the gripping pressureshall be applied gradually so as to give the fibers a chance to sliplongitudinally to the extent necessary for effecting the desiredcrimping action, the application of gripping pressure being effectedpreferably during a period ,when the fibers are being moved forwardlywhereby the required slippa e may be more readily produced.

It is another object of my invention to provide an arrangement of thistype in which the pressure is applied to the stalks and fibers throughheavy shoes pivoted transversely so that by a slight swinging motion ofthe shoes the pressure can be distributed and evened, with the pivotalaxes preferably located off center longitudinally for providing anexcess of pressure at one end.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved form andarrangement of parts for controlling the angle of the stalks as they are60 moved forwardly on the table to the secondacting breaking andscutching means at one side of the table after they have advanced out ofengagement with the first-acting breaking and scutching means at theopposite side of the table.-

and specifically to provide improved means by which the stalks arenormally presented to said second-acting breaking and scutching means insubstantially right-angular relation thereto. It is one of my objects toprovide an arrangement of this type which shall have a brushing effecton the fibers for removing partially loosened hurds therefromas thefibers move forward.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved form ofauxiliary feeding apparatus located opposite the second set of beaterdevices which shall feed the end portions of the stalks forwardlysubstantially at the same rate of speed as that at which other portionsof said stalks are being fed forwardly by the second-acting gripping andforwarding chain, such auxiliary feeding apparatus being effective uponthe portions of the stalks already gripped and crimped by thefirst-acting gripping and forwarding chain.

It is another object of my invention to provide an independent drive forthe two sets of beater devices whereby the beater devices operating onthe butt ends of the stalks may be operated at the desired speed formeeting such conditions while the beater devices operating on theopposite end portions of the stalks may be operated at any other speedas may be desired for meeting the different conditions thereencountered. It is another object of my invention to control in this waythe number of blows applied to the stalks and fibers by the beaterdevices per given unit of length and to provide that the number of suchblows applied to the butt ends of the stalks need not necessarily be thesame as that applied to the opposite end portions of the stalks. V

It is another object of my invention to improve the construction of thebeater reels by which the required protection shall be furnished againstentanglement of the fibers with the working parts of the reels, andparticularly in connection with the lower reel of each set of reels.

It is another object of my invention to improve apparatus of this typein sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by whichI have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. Thatwhich I believe to be new and desire to cover by letters Patent is setforth in the claims.

In the drawings,--

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the preferred form of my apparatus,partially broken away at some points for clearness of illustration;

' Fig. 2 is a side view of the forward end portion of the machine asshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the end portions of the endless chainarrangement provided for gripping and forwarding the stalks byengagement with the fibers after the stalks have been partially brokenand scutched;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the end portions of the endless chainarrangement provided .for gripping and forwarding the stalks of fibrousmaterial when first fed to the machine;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at the line 5-5 of Fig.3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional'view taken at line 6 -6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a top face view of a fragmentary portion of the bottom ply ofthe endless chain structure of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the shoes comprising a part ofthe endless chain arrangement of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the shoes comprising a part ofthe endless chain arrangement of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the rear end portion of the ribbed slide platearrangement of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10a is a vertical cross sectional view taken at line Ella-Illa ofFig. 10;

Fig. 11 is a top view, partially in section and largely broken away, ofthe auxiliary feeding mechanism of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at line i2-i2 of Fig.11;

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross section taken substantially at line i3i3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view through the brushing mechanism shownin Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a bottom face view of a fragmentary portion of the brushingmechanism;

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at the line l6i6 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a side view of the forward end portion of one of the lowerreels; and

Fig. 18 is a side view of the forward end portion of one of the upperreels.

In describing my improved apparatus, I have referred to the end of themachine at which the stalks are received as being the rear end and tothe opposite end as being the front of the machine, so that thestalksand fibers are moved forwardly through the machine toward the left inFig. 1 from the rear of the machine to the front.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in whichcorresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 25and 26 indicate the sections of a table supported by any suitableframework along which stalks of fibrous material such as hemp are movedforwardly toward the left in Fig. 1 for presentation first to a set ofbreaking and scutching means at one side of the table and then forpresentation to a set of breaking and scutching means at the other sideof the table. In my improved machine, each set of breaking and scutchingmeans is arranged in convergent position forwardly with respect to thepath of movement of the stalks along the table, each set of breaking andscutching means being adapted to act upon the end portions of the stalkswhich are projected step by step beyond the obliquely disposed edge ofthe table as the stalks move forward, the stalks being arranged acrossthe table and moved forward transversely of the stalks. The first actingbreaking and scutching means at one side of the table is indicatedgenerally by the reference character 21 and that at the other side ofthe table is indicated generally by the reference character 28. Themeans to which the stalks are first delivered for forwarding them alongthe table are indicated generally by the reference character 29, and thegripping and forlengthwise.

After the stalks havemoved substantially half way through the machine soas to be broken and scutched at one end by the beater mechanism at oneside of the table for the removal of the woody portions of the stalksfrom the fibers, the fibers at such side of the machine are brought intoengagement with a brushing mechanism indicated generally by the numeral3 I, such brushing mechanism comprising an endless belt with its upperply moving toward the side of the table away from the gripping andforwarding means 29. This brushing mechanism serves to straighten outthe fibers between the point where the stalks are gripped by thegripping and forwarding means 29' and the point where engagement is tobe efiected between the fibers and the forwarding and gripping means 30.when such engagement has been effected, the stalks and fibers areforwarded for a short distance by both sets of gripping and forwardingmeans before the stalks pass out of engagement with the gripping andforwarding means 29. This brushing mechanism serves by an obliquepulling effect on the fibers backwardly and laterally to control theangle of the stalks after they have passed out of engage- ,ment with thegripping and forwarding means 29 whereby the stalks are presented to thebreaking and scutching means 28 at about right angles with respectthereto.

At the end of the gripping and forwarding means 23 I haveprovided a setof auxiliary feeding bars, indicated generally by the numeral 32,arranged diagonally across the extension of the field of action of thegripping and forwarding means 23 so that as stalks cleaned at one endare carried forward by the gripping and forwarding means 30 beyond theend of the gripping and forwarding means 29 the portions of the stalkswhich were crimped and partially broken by engagement with the grippingand forwarding means 29 are brought into operative engagement with suchauxiliary feeding bars. The arrangement of these bars is such, as willhereinafter appear, that they cause the crimped portions of the stalksto be presented to the best possible advantage to the breaking andscutching means 28 as the stalks move forward.

In the arrangement shown, the breaking and scutching means 23 are drivenby an electric motor 33. The breaking and scutching means 21 are drivenby an electric motor 34 independently of the motor 33. The gripping andforwarding means 23 and 30, the brushing mechanism 3|, and the auxiliaryfeeding mechanism 32 are driven by a motor 35. The arrangement is suchthat the speed of driving of each of such several sets of mechanism canbe controlled for obtaining the desired variation in speeds for meetinga great variety of conditions.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 16 for a more detailed description of thebreaking and scutching means 21, it will be seen that this meanscomprises two intermeshing spiral reels, the upper one of whichcomprises a plurality of heads 31 in the form of spiders fixedly mountedupon a shaft 38 which is revolubly mounted at about the level of thetable top and parallel with the edge of the table. The arms of thespiders are provided at their outer ends with longitudinally extendingspirally arranged breaker bars 39 which in the rotation of the reelarebrought downwardly past the edge of the table 25 in close proximitythereto as is indicated in Fig. 16. A lower reel comprising a pluralityof similar heads and a head 4|! in the form of a disc mounted upon ashaft 4| in spaced relation therealong is provided with spirallyarranged beater bars 42, such lower reel being mounted on an axlesubstantially underneath the edge of the table 25 so as to provideeffective cooperation between the beater bars 39 and 42 and the edge ofthe table all in the manner disclosed and claimed by my prior LettersPatent No. 1,718,587 granted June 25, 1929. As is clearly shown in Fig.16, the shafts 38 and 4| are in the form of heavy pipes being supportedat their ends by stub shaft sections 43.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 18, the forward end portions of the bars 39of the upper reel are bent inwardly toward the shaft 38, such inwardlybent portions extending forwardly beyond the point of breakingcooperation with the table for keeping the fibers out of engagement withthe means by which the shaft 38 is supported at its forward end.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 17, the breaker bars 42 of the lower reelare connected with the head 40 by means of lugs 44 which in theconstruction shown are formed integrally with the head 46, such lugsbeing arranged on the front faces of the breaker bars 42 in thedirection of rotation of the reel. At its front face the head 48 isprovided with a peripheral flange 40a within which a drum 48b extendsfor taking the fiber from the reel without danger of its becomingtangled or caught in the shaft bearings.

The forward ends of the reels comprising the breaking and scutchingmeans 21 are supported by frames 45 and 46 respectively mounted upon aplatform 41. The reels are enclosed within a housing 48 of any approvedtype except at the point immediately above the table 25 where thehousing is left open for the movement of the stalks into operativeposition with respect to the reels. In the arrangement shown, the motor34 is mounted upon the housing 48 at its rear end, being connected by asprocket chain 49 with the upper reel, and the upper and lower reelsbeing connected together by means of intermeshing gears 50 and Thearrangement of the mechanism of the breaking and scutching means 28 issubstantially the same as that above described in connection with thebreaking and scutchingmeans 21 except that it is arranged to operate inthe reverse direction at the opposite side of the table. The similarityis such that the same reference characters are employed as are abovesetforth. It is believed to be unnecessary to describe this subject-matteragain in detail.

The arrangement of the gripping and forwarding means 29 is best shown inFigs. 4, 6, '7 and 9. As is best shown in Fig. 4, two or more transverseframe bars 52 are provided, spaced a short distance above the surface ofthe table 25. Upon the bottom faces of a plurality of such cross bars,

I have mounted a longitudinally extending bar 58 preferably of maple, tothe side faces of which I have attached side plates 54 provided withupwardly projecting lugs 55 at their rear end portions in which ismounted an axle 56 supporting a sprocket gear 51 revolubly in position.A second sprocket gear 58 is mounted upon a transverse shaft 59 oppositethe forward end of the bar 53 in position to cooperate with the sprocketgear 51 for supporting and driving the endless chain arrangementcomprising a part of the gripping and forwarding means 29. As is bestshown in Fig. '7, this endless chain arrangement comprises a duplexchain construction formed of chains 66 and 6| connected by a series ofbars 62 (see Fig. 7), the sprocket gears 51 and 58 being arranged withtwo sets of teeth for engaging the chains 60 and 6|. The grippingandforwarding means comprises a series of heavy cast shoes 63 (see Fig. 9),each of which is notched at one end for the reception of acorrespondingly shaped lug formed on the end of the adjacent shoe as isbest shown in Fig. 7, the lug portions of said shoes being indicated bythe numeral 64. A series of such shoes are mounted upon selected ones ofthe cross bars 62 by means of lugs 65 on the inner faces of the shoes.As is best shown in Fig. 4, the mounting lugs 65 are located some littledistance off center longitudinally of the shoes being located nearer theforward ends of the shoes with respect to the direction of movement ofthe chain.

As is best shown in Figs. 6 and 9, each of the shoes 63 comprises alongitudinally extending rib 66 at an intermediate point and two sideribs 61 and 68 along the side edges, the intermediate rib 66 beingtapered downwardly. The ribs 61 and 68 are provided with teeth 69 inspaced relation therealong, and the rib 66 is provided with transverselyextending ribs or teeth 18 extending from the rib 81 to the rib 68.

Underneath the lower ply of the endless chain arrangement comprising thegripping and forwarding means 29 I have provided two upwardly projectingribs 1| which in the arrangement shown are formed integrally with alongitudinally extending plate 12 positioned upon the top face of thetable 25. The arrangement is such that the ribs 1| extend upwardly atopposite sides of the intermediate ribs 86 of the shoes 63, with theteeth 69 extending downwardly opposite the outer faces of the stationaryribs 1|. When the lower ply of the endless chain is moved forwardly, ortoward the left in Figs. 1 and 4, by power applied through the shaft 59,stalks of fibrous material presented at the rear end of the chain areengaged by the downwardly projecting teeth of the shoes and are drawninto position between the shoes and the ribs 1|, the rear ends of theribs 1| being tapered off toward the right for permitting easy movementof the stalks into position. As wiil'be appreciated from an inspectionof Fig. 6, the stalks of fibrous material will necessarily be crimpedmore or less by engagement between the shoes and the ribs 1| so as to becarried forwardly by the moving chain and so as to be gripped tightly bythe parts for resisting strongly any pull upon the stalks longitudinallyof the stalks. The arrangement is such, however, that the angle ofcrimping is not great enough for breaking the fibers. For controllingmore effectively the degree of clamping effected by the shoes upon thestalks, I have provided'side ribs 13 on the shoes 63 which engagelongitudinally extending bars 14 carried by plates 15 attached to thelower edge portions of the side plates 54 serving to limit the movementof the shoes toward the ribs 1 I. At the same time the side plates 54prevent the shoes from moving too far away from the ribs, beingparticularly effective for this purpose at the point where the stalksare initially gripped and crimped at the right in Fig. 4. In theoperation of my improved mechanism, the heavy shoes 93 float on thestalks after the initial crimping has been eifected. The of!- centerpivotal mounting of the shoes insures a normal gravity pressure by theshoes at their rear ends upon the stalks which are arranged between theteeth 59 for their movement along the top faces of the ribs 1|.

The gripping and forwarding means 38 is similar to the gripping means 29above described with respect to the general arrangement, the principaldifference being with respect to the formation of the shoes and theformation of the slide bar means cooperating with the shoes for grippingthe fibers as above explained briefly. This mechanism is shown in Figs.3, 5, 8 and 10. In this arrangement a longitudinal bar 15 is mountedupon transverse frame bars 11, having side plates 18 connected theretowhich are provided at their rear ends with upwardly extending lugs 19supporting a bolt 88 upon which a sprocket gear 8I is revolubly mounted.A second sprocket gear 82 is mounted upon a cross shaft 83 at theforward end of the machine opposite the end of the bar 16, the sprocketgears BI and 82 being similar to the gears 51 and 58 and supportingendless chains 84 and 85 connected by cross bars 88 correspond ing tothe cross bars 62 of the first described arrangement. Upon selected onesof the cross bars 86, I have mounted heavy cast shoes 81 by means oflugs 88 formed on the inner faces of the shoes in off center relationlongitudinally of the shoes as above explained in connection with theshoes 63. As is best shown in Fig. 8, the ends of the shoes 81 arenotched, the arrangement being such that the end of one shoe fitsloosely in the correspondingly notched end of the adjacent shoe. Theshoes 81 are supported by means of side ribs 89 thereon which engagelongitudinally extending strips 98 carried by plates 9| attached to thelower edge portions of the side plates 18, the side plates 18 and thestrips 98 serving to limit vertical movement of the shoes.

Each of the shoes 81 is provided on its outer face with a plurality oflongitudinally extending ribs 92, the lower faces of which are providedwith teeth 93 therealong, the ribs 92 and the teeth 93 being downwardlytapered as is best shown in Fig. 5. Between the shoes 81 and the tablesection 26, I have provided a slide plate 94 having ribs 95 in spacedrelation to each other thereon, the arrangement being such that the ribs95 extend upwardly between the longitudinally extending ribs 92 of theshoes 81. As is clearly shown in Fig. 5, the grooves between the ribs 92are rounded, and the upper edges of the ribs 95 are likewise rounded,the space between the ribs and the grooves being comparatively small soas to enable the shoes to grip the fibers at the cleaned end portions ofthe stalks so as to carry the stalks forward and to hold the fibersfirmly against movement longitudinally of the fibers with respect to thegripping and forwarding means.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 10, the rear end portions of the plate 94and the ribs 95 are tapered toward the rear for providing readyengagement of the fibers therewith. As is best shown in Fig. 18a, theseveral ribs 95 are given different deplate grees of taper at their endportions so that the crimping of the fibers may be effected graduallywithout danger of applying sufficient pressure thereto for breaking thefibers. By my improved arrangement, the same floating effect is producedin connection with the shoes 81 and the fibers as is produced inconnection with the 'shoes 53 and the stalks. The shoes 81 grip thefibers firmly by reason of the plural bends about the ribs 95.

Referring now to the brushing device 3I, as best shown in Fig. 13, itwill be seen that it is made up of a series of slats 96 carried by twooppositely disposed endless chains 91 mounted upon sprocket gears 98 and99 carried by shafts I88 and IN, the latter of which is connected by asprocket chain I82 with a longitudinally extendirm drive shaft I83 as isclearly shown in Fig. 2. The shaft I83 is driven by a sprocket chain I84from a longitudinally extending shaft I (see Fig. 13) which in turn isdriven by the motor 35 through a sprocket chain I81 and a variable speedgear box I88 of any suitable type. The arrangement is such that thebrushing device 3I is driven by the motor 35 so as to carry the upperply of the belt toward the right in Fig. 13 away from the gripping andforwarding means 29, the slats 98 in their movement passing underneaththe rear end of the gripping and forwarding means 38 as is best shown inFig. 3. For accomplishing this purpose, the intermediate portion of theupper ply of the belt runs upon shoes 96a located upon the frameworkunderneath the chains 91, by which such upper ply portion is bowedupwardly. The arrangement is such that when the fiber is drawn by thegripping and forwarding means 29 toward the left in Fig. 1 out ofengagement with the breaking and scutching means 21 it is drawn intoposition upon the top face of the belt 3|, from which it is carried intoposition above the plate 94 and the ribs into effective engagement withthe shoes 81 of the gripping and forwarding means 38. As will beappreciated, the engagement of the fibers with the upper ply of the beltcomprising said slats 95 serves to apply a fairly heavy pull on suchfibers backwardly and transversely of the machine, controlling thus theangle of the fibers as they are engaged by the gripping and forwardingchain 38 and controlling thus the normal .position of the stalks afterthey are freed from the chain 29.

For protecting the fiber from being caught between the ends of the shoes81 as they straighten out into alignment with each other about thesprocket gear 8|, I have provided aguard plate I89 extending acrossunderneath the rear end of the endless chain arrangement comprising theshoes 81. As is best shown in Fig. 3, such guard I89 is carried by sideplates II8 which are adjustable longitudinally of the plates 9| forplacing the guard or shield I 89 at the desired point.

In the arrangement shown, the shafts 59 and 83 by which the gripping andforwarding mechanism 29 and 38 are driven are connected with the shaftI83 by means of trains of gearing comprising sprocket chains III andworm gear mechanisms II2 of any approved form.

The auxiliary feeding mechanism 32 comprises a plurality of bars II3each provided with a series of downwardly projecting pins H4 on itslower face, such bars II3 being connected at their rear ends with a headI I5 rotatably mounted upon a transverse axis which in the arrangementshown is in the form of a stud H8,

'I I8 are provided between the an anti-friction bearing device II1 beinginterposed between the shaft and the head II! in the constructionillustrated. Anti-friction bearings head H5 in the arrangement shown. Attheir forward ends, the bars II3 are connected by means of anti-frictionbearing devices II8 with a head II9 carried by a transversely extendinggripping and forwarding means shaft I20 which is driven by power fromthe shaft 83 by means of a belt I2I operating on pulleys I22 and I23carried by the shafts B3 and I20 respectively. The arrangement is suchthat upon the rotation of the head H9 in clockwise direction in Fig. 2the bars II3 are revolved about each other and the pins H4 of said barsare carried forwardly along the top surface of the table toward the leftin said Fig. 2- so that at the lowermost portions of their movements thefingers project between the stalks being carried forward by the grippingand forwarding means 30, engaging such stalks at points therealongclosely adjacent to the points of action thereon by the breaking andscutching means. The driving means is arranged for insuring movement ofthe pins Ill at substantially the same rate as that at which the shoes81 are moving, with the result that the stalks are controlledeffectively for presentation in the normal manner to the breaking andscutching means. With such bars H3 arranged directly opposite the end ofthe 29 in the extension of the field of action thereof, the pins H4provide an auxiliary ,Vfeeding effect for the portions of the stalkswhich have been crimped and more or less broken by engagement with thegripping and forwarding means 29. In case of possible necessity, thebelt I2I operating on the pulleys I22 and I23 permits a slight yieldingby slippage for preventing any breakage of the fibers.

While I prefer to employ the form of mechanism' as shown in my drawingsand as above described, it is to be understood that my invention is notlimited to the arrangement shown except so far as the claims may be solimited by the prior art.

I claim:-- 1. In an appar tus of the type described, the

combination of a table having a longitudinally extending groove in itstop face, an endless forwarding chain structure comprising reticulatedmembers arranged thereabout and having outwardly projecting lugs ontheir outer faces, means for supporting and driving said chain structurewith the outwardly projecting lugs on the reticulated members of thelower ply extending into said groove, and means slidably engaging thelower ply of said chain structure between its end portions serving tosupport said reticulated members and to hold them down in operativerelation to said groove.

2. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, anendless chain operatively supported above the table in position for itslower ply to move along the face of the table in upwardly spacedrelation thereto, a series of heavy shoes in the-form of plates arrangedtransversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotallymounted on said chain on a trans-' bars Ill and the tlvely supportedabove the table in position for its lower ply to move along the face ofthe table in upwardly spaced relation thereto, a series of heavy shoesin the form of plates arranged transversely across the outer face of thechain and each pivotally mounted on said chain on a transverse axislocated substantially nearer to one end of the shoe than to the otherend, and ribs on the table underneath said chain between which fibersare crimped by the gravity pressure of said shoes for causing saidfibers to move forwardly along the upper faces of the ribs with theshoes.

4. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, anendless chain operatively supported above the table in position forunderneath said chain between which fibers are crimped by the gravitypressure of said shoes for causing said fibers to move forwardly alongthe upper faces of the ribs with the shoes, and means having slidingengagement with said shoes for limiting the vertical movement of theshoes with respect to the table.

.5. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table;means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly along a pathobliquely disposed with respect to one edge of the table; a-reelcomprising a shaft, heads on said shaft in spaced relation to each othertherealong, and breaker bars carried by said heads longitudinally of thereel; and means for revolving said reel; the head at the forward end ofsaid reel toward which said fibrous material ismoved being in the formof a disc having integrally formed lugs thereon extending longitudinallyof the reel at the faces of said breaker bars in advance in the rotationof the reel for preventing the fiber from becoming caught between thebreaker bars and the disc.

6. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table;means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly along a pathobliquely disposed with respect to one edge of the table; a reelcomprising a shaft, heads on said shaft in spaced relation to each othertherealong, and spirally arranged breaker bars carried by said headslongitudinally of the reel and.

having their forward ends bent inwardly toward the shaft in advance ofthe forward head; and means for revolving said reel.

7. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous materiallongitudinally of the table, breaking and scutching means at one side ofthe table in convergent position forwardly with respect to said grippingand forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of thestalks as they are projected beyond the edge of the table, otherbreaking and scutching means at the opposite side of the table in moreadvanced position forwardly than said first named breaking and scutchingmeans and likewise in convergent position forwardly with respect to saidgripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the endportions of the stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edgeof the table, and transversely moving means at the forward end of saidfirst named breaking and scutching means adapted to pull the fibersbackwardly and transversely of the machine for controlling the angle atwhich the stalks are presented to the breaking and scutching means atthe opposite side of the machine.

8. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous materiallongitudinally of the table, breaking and scutching means at one side ofthe table in convergent position forwardly with respect to said grippingand forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of thestalks as they are projected beyond the edge of the table, otherbreaking and scutching means at the opposite side of the table in moreadvanced position forwardly than said first named breaking and scutchingmeans and likewise in convergent position forwardly with respect to saidgripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the endportions of the stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edgeof the table, and an endless belt extending transversely of the machinewith its upper ply bowed upwardly at its intermediate portion and movingaway from said gripping and forwarding means at the same side of thetable as that at which said first named breaking and scutching means islocated serving to pull the cleaned fibers backwardly and transverselyof the machine.

9. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous materiallongitudinally of the table, breaking and scutching means at one side ofthe table in convergent position forwardly with respect to said grippingand forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of thestalks as they are projected beyond the edge of the table, otherbreaking and scutching means at the opposite side of the table in moreadvance position forwardly than said first named breaking and scutchingmeans and likewise in convergent position forwardly with respect to saidgripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the endportions of the stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edgeof the table, and an endless belt extending transversely of the machinecomprising two endless chains arranged side by side in spaced relationto each other and a series of slats extending from one chain to theother longitudinally of the machine, said belt having its upper plylocated at about the same level as that of the table and moving in thedirection away from said gripping and forwarding means at the same sideof the table as that at which said first named breaking and scutchingmeans is located serving to pull the cleaned fibers backwardly andtransversely of the machine.

10. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,means for gripping and moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly alonga path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of the table,breaking and scutching means at said edge of the table in position toact on the ends of said stalks as they project beyond the edge of thetable in their forward movement therealong, an endless belt arrangedwith its upper ply moving transversely of the machine away from saidfirst named gripping and forwarding means in advance of the forward endof said breaking and scutching means for pulling the cleaned fibersbackwardly and transversely of the machine as said stalks are carriedforward, and other means arranged alongside of said first named grippingand forwarding means and extending backwardly a short distance over saidendless belt adapted by engagement with said fibers coming from saidendless belt to carry the fibers forwardly beyond the forward end ofsaid first named gripping and forwarding means.

11. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous material along thetable, breaking and scutching means at the edge of the table inconvergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping andforwarding means for breaking and scutching the ends of said stalks asthey are projected beyond the edge of the table in their forwardmovement, means alongside of said first named gripping and forwardingmeans and extending forwardly therefrom adapted by a gripping engagementwith the fibers cleaned by said breaking and scutching means to forwardthe partially cleaned stalks along the table in continuation of themovement of the stalks by said first named gripping and forwardingmeans, other breaking and scutching means at the edge of the tableopposite that at which said first named breaking and scutching means arelocated and also in convergent position forwardly with respect to saidsecond named gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutchingthe ends of said stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edgeof the table in the forward movement of the stalks, and means arrangedsubstantially parallel with said second named breaking and scutchingmeans and extending obliquely across the forward extension of the fieldof action of said first named gripping and forwarding means adapted byengagement with the portions of said stalks crimped by engagement withsaid first named g ipping and forwarding means to move such crimpedportions of the stalks forward at substantially the same rate as that atwhich the gripped portions of the stalks are being moved forwardly bysaid second named gripping and forwarding means.

12. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous material along thetable, breaking and scutching means at the edge of the table inconvergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping andforwarding means for breaking and scutching the ends of said stalks asthey are projected beyond the edge of the table in their forwardmovement, means alongside of said first named gripping and forwardingmeans and extending forwardly therefrom adapted by a gripping engagementwith the fibers cleaned by said breaking and scutching means to forwardthe partially cleaned stalks along the table in continuation of themovement of the stalks by said first named gripping and forwardingmeans, other breaking and scutching means at the edge of the tableopposite that at which said first named breaking and scutching means arelocated and also in convergent position forwardly with respect to saidsecond named gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutchingthe ends of said stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edgeof the table in the forward movement of the stalks, a disc revolublymounted on a transverse axis at about the forward end of said firstnamed gripping and forwarding means, a second disc revolubly mounted ona transverse axis a considerable distance in advance of the forward endof said first named gripping and forwarding means, bars arrangedobliquely opposite the forward end of said first named gripping andforwarding means and connected eccentrically with said discs, and meansfor revolving said discs for carrying said bars successively forward ineffective engagement with said stalks and moving at substantially thesame rate of speed as that at which the gripped portions of the stalksare carried forwardly by said second named gripping and forwardingmeans.

13. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lowerply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pair ofribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a seriesof gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arrangedtransversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotallymounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain,each of said shoes being provided with a longitudinally disposed toothedrib in position to extend downwardly between the stationary ribs on thetable and provided with toothed ribs along its side edges in position toextend downwardly opposite the outer faces of said stationary ribs.

14. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lowerply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pair ofribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a seriesof gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates each pivotallymounted on said chain by means of a lug on its inner face transverselyof the shoe for holding the plate in transverse position across theouter face of the chain, each of said shoes being provided with alongitudinally disposed toothed rib in position to extend downwardlybetween the stationary ribs on the table and provided with toothed ribsalong its side edges in position to extend downwardly opposite the outerfaces of said stationary ribs.

15. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lowerply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pair ofribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a seriesof grippingand forwarding shoes in the form of plates arrangedtransversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotallymounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain,each of said shoes being provided with a downwardly tapered intermediaterib longitudinally thereof and other ribs along its side edges, saidlast named ribs being provided with downwardly projecting teeth inspaced relation therealong and said intermediate rib being provided withdownwardly projecting transverse teeth extending from one of said lastnamed ribs to the other opposite the teeth of said last named ribs.

16. In an apparatus of the type described, the

combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table formovement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relationthereto, a plurality of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation toeach other, and a series of gripping and forwarding shoes in the form ofplates arranged transversely across the outer face of the chain and eachpivotally mounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on saidchain, each of said shoes being provided with a plurality of downwardlytapered toothed ribs longitudinally thereof on its bottom face inposition to extend between the stationary ribs on the table.

1'7. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lowerply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pluralityof ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and aseries of gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arrangedtransversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotallymounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain,each of said shoes being provided with a plurality of downwardly taperedribs longitudinally thereof on its bottom face in position to extendbetween the stationary ribs on the table, and each of said ribs on theshoe being provided with a series of teeth therealong normally locatedbelow the level of the upper edges of the stationary ribs on the table.

18. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lowerply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pluralityof ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and aseries of gripping and forwarding shoes each pivotally mounted at'anintermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, each of saidshoes being notched at its ends for interfitting engagement with theadjacent shoes, and each of said shoes being provided with a pluralityof downwardly projecting toothed ribs longitudinally thereof on itsbottom face in position to extend downwardly between the stationary ribson the table.

19. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lowerply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pluralityof ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, a seriesof gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arrangedtransversely across, the outer face of the chain and each pivotallymounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, anda guard extending across the bottom face of the chain at the point wheresaid shoes straighten into alignment with each other at the rear end ofthe chain for preventing fiber from being caught between the ends of theshoes, each of said shoes being provided with a plurality of downwardlyprojecting toothed ribs longitudinally thereof on its bottom face inposition to extend downwardly between the stationary ribs on the table.

20. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table,an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lowerply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pluralityof ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, a seriesof gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arrangedtransversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotallymounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, anda guard extending across the bottom face of the chain at its rear endportion and adjustable longitudinally of the chain for preventing fiberfrom being caught between the ends of the shoes as they straighten outinto alignment with each other, each of said shoes being provided with aplurality of downwardly projecting toothed ribs longitudinally of theshoe on its bottom face in position to extend downwardly between thestationary ribs on the table.

JOHN N. SELVIG.

